Searchable abstracts of presentations at key conferences in endocrinology
Endocrine Abstracts (2006) 11 P16

ECE2006 Poster Presentations Bone (46 abstracts)

Value of qualitative bone histology assessment in the evaluation of subjects with primary osteoporosis

CE Georgescu 1 , T Seck 2 , HW Minne 3 , R Ziegler 4 , I Duncea 1 , L Gozariu 1 & J Pfeilschifter 2


1Department of Endocrinology, “Iuliu Haţieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania; 2Department of Medicine, BG-Kliniken Bergmannsheil, University of Bochum, Bochum, Germany; 3Klinik “Der Fürstenhof”, Bad Pyrmont, Germany; 4Department of Internal Medicine I, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.


During the past thirty years bone biopsy has been used as an invasive diagnostic and research investigation of bone structure and metabolism. Bone biopsy parameters are used to assess both bone mass and bone quality. This study aimed to establish the value of routine qualitative bone biopsy evaluation in subjects with unclear primary osteoporosis. One-hundred seventy patients (73 men and 97 women), aged 54.29±0.95 years, were included in the study. The diagnosis was based on clinical data, lumbar spine and hip dual X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) evaluation and routine laboratory measurements. Bone biopsy was performed by horizontal approach, using an electric drill. Of the 170 bone samples, secondary causes of low bone mineral density were identified in 19 patients (mastocytosis, multiple myeloma, myeloproliferative syndrome, sarcoidosis and osteomalacia). Excessive unmineralized osteoid without reduced bone mass was seen in 14 patients. Normal bone histology was obtained in 21 subjects with low bone mineral density. Accelerated bone resorption, as expressed by the daily urinary levels of deoxypyridinoline (D-Pyr), and long-term sodium fluoride therapy were associated with delayed osteoid mineralization. Bone biopsy changes, as assessed by qualitative evaluation, were not related to serum thyroid hormone, parathyroid hormone or 25-hydroxyvitaminD3 levels. In conclusion, qualitative bone biopsy evaluation may offer valuable information in the diagnosis of metabolic bone diseases in subjects with unexplained causes of low bone mineral density or in non-responders to anti-fracture agents.

Volume 11

8th European Congress of Endocrinology incorporating the British Endocrine Societies

European Society of Endocrinology 
British Endocrine Societies 

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